Have your say Wednesday Oct 23rd on the Sliding Scale Long-Term Funding Report

Calgary Transit was asked by City Council to explore different funding options to keep the sliding-scale going beyond 2019. 

To read the entire report, begin on page 29 of the TT2019-1044 item 7.2

Join us

 

Wednesday, October 23rd 

Beginning at 9:30 am 

City Hall Council Chamber 

(located in the Municipal Building)

800 McLeod Trail SE

Sliding scale report for long term funding being reviewed Wednesday, October 23rd by Calgary City Council

 

Save the Date for Calgary's Transit Summit

Join us for Transit Summit 10 till 2 pm

Transit Summit at CNIB from Thursday, September 26th, 2019 10-11 A Street NE. 

Tickets are on Eventbrite. https://public-transit-in-calgary-september-26-2019.eventbrite.ca

This will be a public opportunity to unite our stories about the positive impacts of affordable transit and the environmental and health benefits of a transit orientated city. 

Please visit the Eventbrite for further information.  

On November 26 - Ask our City Council to fund Sliding Scale for 2019

Fair Fares postcard survey's
Top 3 Reasons People
Use the Low-Income Transit Pass

On November 26th City Council will hear submissions from the public on a number of budget related issues, including a $6 million funding request from Calgary Transit to fund the Low Income Transit Pass for 2019. This funding is required to maintain the current fare structure of the Sliding Scale 


With the introduction of the Sliding Scale, the Low-Income Transit pass has surpassed all expectations of monthly pass sales, far exceeding the previous “one price” monthly pass. The program has doubled in size in the past two years. 


Results form City of Calgary survey of customers in the fall of 2017 showed that a more affordable monthly pass shows: 

• Increases the ability of people living in poverty to visit family and friends, thereby creating and maintaining strong relationships and decreasing social isolation and loneliness. 
• Allows people living in extreme poverty to become more mobile and increase participation in the community. 
• Maintains physical health by allowing people to get to medical and professional appointments and go to recreational programs. 
• Allows people to access employment, puts more money in people’s pockets and enables them to purchase other necessities such as food, shelter, clothing, school supplies etc. 

Other important benefits of the Sliding Scale include: 

• All members of the family are able to purchase a pass enabling them to travel together. 
• A recent study states transit tickets are the most common bylaw fine and an upstream approach is needed to reduce the number of people entering the justice system due to fare evasion fines. 
• Creates a more equitable and inclusive city and a community of engaged citizens. 
• Helps to alleviate stress and create an improved quality of life for people in poverty. 
• Contributes to long term goals of carbon reduction. 
• We are asking organizations to: 
• Send out the attached ”Call To Action” to the people you serve and your other contacts. If possible organizations can also assist their clients to write their letters of support. 
• Consider writing a letter to City Council from your organization in support of the Sliding Scale and send a copy to faircalgaryvoice@gmail.com. 
• Come to City Council on November 26th to speak or just to be in the audience. 

Contact information for your City Councillor is found at: 
http://www.calgary.ca/citycouncil/Pages/citycouncil.aspx 

*Sample letter of support can be downloaded here

*Call to Action can be downloaded here



Thank you for supporting affordable transportation in Calgary. 


Fair Calgary Community Voices 
faircalgaryvoice@gmail.com

Fair Calgary Community Voices is a group of organizations, community advocates and people experiencing poverty. We work with the City of Calgary to advocate for accessible and affordable low-income subsidy programs

New Website Transit for All

The City of Calgary is now planning its 4-year budget called "One Calgary" and we need the province to be on board beyond 2019. 

We created a "Transit 4 All" site check it out. 

Facebook: Fair Fares YYC
Twitter: @Calgaryfares
New Website: "Transit 4 All " Transit 4 All
Instagram: Fair_FaresYYC 

Proud our City continues the commitment for affordable transit... how about Alberta?

We are proud our City has led the way for many municipalities to take a closer look at what is an affordable fare. 
Affordable fares in Calgary mean ability to pay, in Calgary we call it the sliding scale. 

We believe operational funding of transit is a cost-shared responsibility of all three levels of government.
We are crossing our fingers our province sees the benefits and renews its commitment to help Albertans address social isolation and access community. 

Sliding Scale Call to Action for November 27th, 2017

On November 27th, share with Calgary City Council why affordable transit matters...

This November 27th help us share why affordable transit matters to Calgarians

Here are three things you can do...

  1.  Download the 'Affordable Transit Makes it Possible for Me to...' colouring page. 

As you can see, it is quite a simple design that allows people to share their story.  Tell us how your life has been affected by the sliding scale other than just writing a letter. On the back side of the page, there is a list of other things you can do. 

  2.  Share your thoughts with City Council in a letter or call 311 

Check out the key messages that people can use when talking about the sliding scale with others or with council members.

  3.  Learn more about the sliding scale. 

Check out the 'Call to Action' It will tell the history of the sliding scale and ways that people can help. 

Congrats to Calgary Transit!

Fair Fares wishes to congratulate Calgary Transit for its A+ grade as one of the best transit systems in Canada.  

Congrats Calgary Transit (link to the article) 

Since the introduction of the sliding scale enabling Calgarians living in extreme poverty, we are pleased to see transit experts rating our City as one of the best and we agree! 

The article talks about how Calgary improved in areas of "Operating Cost Per Service Hour and Passenger Trip Intensity"  both improving from a B to A grade, as well as "Calgary is currently the region with the lowest operating cost per service hour at $152.89, in contrast to Metro Vancouver topping the list at $186.29, followed by Greater Toronto and Hamilton and Greater Montreal’s operating cost service hours of $178.61 and $180.2, respectively." 


Lets hope the sliding scale model will be a trend for more Cities in Canada who make it a priority to ensure Citizens can afford to ride! 

Way to go! 

Fairer Fares are coming to Calgary

Great news! 'Sliding Scale' is rolling in April 1st!  

Transit passes will be different prices based on your yearly income. 

To learn more, visit the Fair Entry site here! And if you are excited this, share your happiness with City of Calgary 
Thanks #yycslidingscale

Sliding scale is almost here! Apply early if you don't already have a pass! 

Letters of Support Needed July 6 to Support Sliding Scale on Transit

 Call Out for Letters of Support for a Sliding Fee Scale for the Low-Income Transit Pass

 

Letters of support to expand and deepen the discounts for the Low-Income Transit Pass are needed by July 6^th, 2016.  

The City of Calgary has looked a options on how to set transit fares on ability to pay. They will present their report to the City’s Community and Protective Services Standing Policy Committee on July 6^th.  

A show of community support for a sliding fee scale for the Low-Income Transit pass could help the Councillor’s decision. 

Did you know? The Province has allocated $ 4.5 million annually for the next three years to Calgary’s Low-Income Transit pass. 
A sliding scale will help more Calgarians afford the bus based on ability to pay. 

Fair Calgary Community Voices is asking the City of Calgary 

to match the Province’s funding 

and create a sliding fee scale to replace the single price fare of $44.00

(currently being used for 

the Low-Income Transit Pass)  

A sliding fee scale will:

• Make the City’s Low-Income Transit pass fair and equitable for all people living on low-income.
• Make the Low-Income Transit pass more affordable for all people living on low-income including those living in extreme poverty. 
• Increase the ceiling for the Low-Income Transit Pass to 30% above the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) for people whose income is slightly above LICO yet still live in poverty. This will prevent people from falling deeper into poverty because of the increasing cost of living in Calgary.
• Assist Calgarians who are impacted by the economic downturn and who can no longer afford the $ 44 monthly transit pass.
• Assist more people living on low-income to secure employment and connect to communities.

A Sliding fee scale aligns with: 

• The “Enough for all Strategy” (a poverty elimination plan), 
• Sustainability 2020 and 
• City of Calgary Action Plan and priorities of “Creating a city that moves, greener communities, a well-run city, a prosperous community and a city of Inspiring neighbourhoods.”

Fair Calgary Community Voices is asking citizens to share their stories on July 6^th at the Standing Policy Committee or write letters to City Councillors

Send a letter to City Council 

Feel free to send us a copy of your letter by emailing us!

More links: 

• 2015 Sliding fee scale report, please visit this link: http://agendaminutes.calgary.ca/sirepub/agdocs.aspx?doctype=agenda&itemid=37477
• Enough for All Strategy and how it aligns with sliding fee scale, please visit this link http://agendaminutes.calgary.ca/sirepub/agdocs.aspx?doctype=agenda&itemid=37477
• City of Calgary Action Plan and Council Priorities visit http://www.calgary.ca/CA/FS/Pages/Action-Plan/Council-Priorities.aspx

Sliding Scale report coming Wednesday, July 6 2016

The City of Calgary moved one step closer on May 28th, 2016  to making a sliding scale a reality. 

Read the recent media coverage where the province plans to provide $ 4.5 million for the next three years to help with the low-income transit pass.

A sliding scale concept is very much like the boxes in the middle picture. where those that cannot afford the regular fare pay less. A sliding scale will help many more people enjoy connecting with the community by creating a more equitable approach to fares.
 If we want the third scenario on the right; it would mean free transit for all where no barriers exist to ride transit.

Global News, May 28th, 2016

Calgary Sun by Trevor Scott Howell, May 28th, 2016


What's next? 

Now its time for the City to decide how best to use the $ 4.5 million to make sure Calgarians can get on the bus. A sliding scale review was approved by Calgary City Council last September. 

Stay tuned for our key messages of why we think a sliding scale will help create a better city. 

We are also looking for people to come and talk to City Council how a sliding scale might help people access transit. Come and share your story on Wednesday, July 6th, 2016 at the Old City Hall Engineering Traditions Board Room at 9:30 am!